Raggi Thomas Parsons Channelle van Vugt FIFTH EDITION Ubuntu Linux Companion eBook Available DVD INCLUDED Beginning this print for content only—size & color not accurate BOOKS FOR PROFESSIONALS BY PROFESSIONALS ® Beginning Ubuntu Linux, FIFTH EDITION Dear Reader, Since its release just a few years ago, Ubuntu has become the world’s most popular Linux distribution. This popularity comes from the fact that Ubuntu combines ease of use and phenomenal power, gorgeous visuals and brilliant software, all for the price of a download. It also ships with almost every piece of software you’re likely to need to do everything from writing a newsletter to using complex web services and creating new movies. This fifth edition of Beginning Ubuntu Linux has been thoroughly revise- dand updated for the most recent release, and the accompanying DVD con- tains the main Ubuntu releases for the most popular computer architectures. This book begins with an introduction to Ubuntu and Linux fundamentals before providing an illustrated, completely new, step-by-step installation guide for Ubuntu 10.04. You’ll also learn how to configure common hardware compo- nents under Ubuntu and how to optimize your Ubuntu installation. We will also show you how to configure your system for listening to music, watching mov- ies, and editing images. You’ll learn how to create text documents, spreadsheets and presentations using OpenOffice.org, Ubuntu’s powerful office solution. We also introduce Evolution, the enterprise-grade e-mail client. New in this edi- tion, you’ll learn how to play games with Ubuntu and how to take advantage of trends such as social networking and cloud computing. Finally, you’ll learn how to take more fine-grained control of your system from managing processes to backing up data. Emilio Raggi, Keir Thomas, Trevor Parsons, Andy Channelle, and Sander van Vugt US $39.99 Shelve in Linux User level: Beginner–Intermediate CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK PANTONE 123 C THE APRESS ROADMAP The Definitive Guide to CentOS Beginning Ubuntu LTS Server Administration Foundations of CentOS Linux Beginning Portable Shell Scripting Pro Ubuntu Server Administration Pro Linux System Administration Beginning the Linux Command Line Beginning Ubuntu Linux, Fifth Edition www.apress.com Companion eBook See last page for details on $10 eBook version ISBN 978-1-4302-3039-7 9 781430 230397 5 39 9 9 spine = 1.25" 664 page count THE EXPERT’S VOICE ® IN OPEN SOURCE Beginning Ubuntu Linux FIFTH EDITION Emilio Raggi, Keir Thomas,Trevor Parsons, Andy Channelle, and Sander van Vugt The complete introduction to Ubuntu Accompanying DVD includes full versions of Ubuntu 10.04, as well as Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu, and PPC releases! Fully revised and updated for 10.04 Emilio Raggi Keir Thomas Trevor Parsons Beginning Ubuntu Linux Fifth Edition ■ ■ ■ Emilio Raggi, Keir Thomas, Trevor Parsons, Andy Channelle, Sander van Vugt Beginning Ubuntu Linux, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2010 by Emilio Raggi, Keir Thomas, Trevor Parsons, Andy Channelle, Sander van Vugt All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher. ISBN-13 (pbk): 978-1-4302-3039-7 ISBN-13 (electronic): 978-1-4302-3040-3 Printed and bound in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Trademarked names, logos, and images may appear in this book. 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To my wife, Pim, and my two children, Camilo and Dante ■ CONTENTS v Contents About the Authors xxi About the Technical Reviewers xxii Introduction xxiii Part 1: Introducing the World of Linux 1 ■ Chapter 1: Meet Ubuntu Linux 3 Ten Reasons to Try Ubuntu Linux 3 What Is Ubuntu Linux Anyway? 4 Ubuntu Linux Is an Operating System 4 Ubuntu Is a Distribution of Linux, Based on Debian 5 Ubuntu Linux Is a Full Desktop Solution 6 The Ubuntu Linux Experience 6 “Linux for Human Beings” 6 A Powerful yet Flexible Operating System 7 Continuous Improvements 8 The Product Family 9 The Ubuntu Linux Community 10 Praise for Ubuntu Linux 11 Should I Stop Using Windows? 11 Ubuntu Linux and its Strengths 12 Summary 12 ■ CONTENTS vi ■ Chapter 2: GNU "slash" Linux 13 UNIX 13 The Rise of the IBM PC… and of Microsoft 14 RMS on Free Software 14 Copyleft 15 The Quest for a UNIX-like Operating System 16 Linus Torvalds and His Little Project 16 GNU “slash” Linux 17 The Linux Diaspora 18 Open Source 20 The South African Factor 20 The Year of the Linux Desktop 21 Summary 22 Part 2: Installing Ubuntu 23 ■ Chapter 3: Pre-installation Steps 25 Understanding Partitioning 25 Freeing Up Space 28 Reclaiming Space 28 Removing Windows 29 Using Another Hard Disk 29 Backing Up Your Data 31 Backing Up E-Mail Files 33 Making Notes 33 Summary 34 ■ Chapter 4: Installing Ubuntu 35 An Overview of the Installation Process 35 ■ CONTENTS vii A Stage-by-Stage Installation Guide 37 Stage 1: Prepare the Windows Partition for Resizing 37 Stage 2: Boot from the DVD-ROM 39 Stage 3: Try or Install 40 Stage 4: Select Your Location and Time Zone 41 Stage 5: Confirm Your Keyboard Layout 42 Stage 6: Repartition Your Hard Disk 43 Stage 7: Set Up a User 54 Stage 8: Import Documents and Settings 56 Stage 9: Confirm Installation Choices 56 Stage 10: Perform Installation 57 Stage 11: Reboot and Enjoy Ubuntu! 58 Summary 61 ■ Chapter 5: Solving Installation Problems 63 A. Preinstallation Problems 63 The Disc Doesn’t Boot 63 The Computer Is Having a Kernel Panic 64 The DVD Starts to Boot, but the Screen Goes Blank or Corrupted 64 The Computer Freezes During Installation 65 Installer “Unrecoverable Error” Message 66 My Notebook Display Looks Corrupted During Installation 66 I’m Using a KVM, and the Screen Looks Wrong 66 B. Installation Problems 67 I’m Offered Only a Text Login 67 The Computer Can’t Find My Hard Disk 68 I See Lots of Hard Disks in the Partitioner 68 I Have Too Many Partitions 68 C. Postinstallation Problems 69 My Monitor Resolution Is Not Recognized 69 My Keyboard or Mouse Isn’t Working 69 ■ CONTENTS viii The Computer No Longer Boots 70 Ubuntu Is Working, but Windows Won’t Boot 70 I Can See Only a Text Login Prompt 71 Graphical Problems 71 Summary 74 Part 3: The No-Nonsense Getting Started Guide 75 ■ Chapter 6: Booting Ubuntu for the First Time 77 Starting Up 77 Logging In 79 Exploring the Desktop 80 First Impressions 81 Exploring the Panels 83 Shutting Down or Restarting Ubuntu 85 Quick Desktop Guides 86 Running Programs 90 Working with Virtual Desktops 90 Using the Mouse 92 Cutting and Pasting Text 93 Summary 93 ■ Chapter 7: Getting Everything Up and Running 95 Will Ubuntu Support My Hardware? 95 Using Proprietary vs. Open Source Drivers 97 Installing Device Manager 98 Configuring Ubuntu 99 Configuring Input Devices 100 Configuring Mouse Options 100 Changing Keyboard Settings 103 Creating Keyboard Shortcuts 106 [...]... 13 7 Using a Bluetooth Keyboard or Mouse .13 9 Configuring Sound Cards .14 0 Using Power-Management Preferences 14 1 Summary .14 5 ■ Chapter 8: How to Secure Your Computer .14 7 Windows Security vs Linux Security 14 7 Root and Ordinary Users 14 8 Encryption 15 0 Setting Up for Encryption 15 1 Encrypting... 10 6 Using NetworkManager 10 7 Configuring Wired Networking 10 8 Connecting to a Wireless Network .11 0 Installing Windows Wireless Network Device Drivers 11 3 Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network 12 1 Working with a Proxy Server 12 3 Adding a Printer 12 4 Configuring a Local Printer 12 5 Configuring... .16 0 Signing and Encrypting E-Mail 16 4 ix ■ CONTENTS Commonsense Security .16 5 Online Updates 16 6 Configuring the Ubuntu Firewall 16 9 Installing Firestarter .16 9 Configuring Firestarter 17 0 Adding Virus Scanning to Ubuntu 17 5 Installing ClamTk 17 5 Updating the ClamAV Database 17 6... Viruses 17 6 Dealing with Infections .17 8 Download from Wow! eBook Summary .18 0 ■ Chapter 9: Personalizing Ubuntu: Getting Everything Just Right 18 1 Changing the Look and Feel 18 1 Altering the Theme .18 2 Changing the Desktop Background 18 7 Setting Font Preferences 18 8 Using Desktop Visual... .307 ■ Chapter 14 : Communicating with Others .309 Introducing Evolution 309 Basic E-Mail Tasks 311 Configuring E-Mail Access 311 Sending and Receiving E-Mail 313 Reading E-Mail 315 xiii ■ CONTENTS Deleting Messages . 315 Flagging Messages 316 Composing a Message . 317 Creating an E-Mail... .4 01 ■ Chapter 19 : Playing Games 403 Linux Games 403 Official Sources 403 Additional Sources 407 Adobe Flash and Web-based Gaming 408 Installing Windows Games 410 Summary . 411 Part 5: Keeping Your System Running 413 ■ Chapter 20: Installing and Removing Software . 415 Using the Ubuntu Software... CHAPTER 4 ■ INSTALLING UBUNTU • The 10 .04 (Lucid Lynx) releases of Kubuntu and Xubuntu, which provide alternative Desktop environments if Ubuntu s default Desktop environment, GNOME, does not suit your taste, and Edubuntu, which provides a layer of educational content on top of the standard Ubuntu installation For more details on these versions of Ubuntu, see Appendix D • An image of the Ubuntu Netbook Edition,... Changing the View Mode 212 Searching for Files . 213 x ■ CONTENTS Working with File and Folder Icons 214 Special Nautilus Windows 214 Launching Files and Running Programs 216 Viewing File Sizes and Other Information 218 Tips and Tricks for Nautilus 218 The Home Folder 219 Understanding File System Concepts... 416 Navigating the Ubuntu Software Center . 416 Browsing and Searching for Software 418 Software Installation Basics 4 21 Formats of Linux Installation Files 4 21 Package Management 422 Dependency Management 423 Software Repositories 424 xvi ■ CONTENTS Advanced Application Management 428 Managing Ubuntu. .. Other Commands to Control Processes 510 Controlling Jobs 511 Summary . 513 Part 6: Appendixes . 515 ■ Appendix A: Introducing the BASH Shell 517 ■ Appendix B: Glossary of Linux Terms 553 xix ■ CONTENTS ■ Appendix C: Getting Further Help 575 ■ Appendix D: Exploring the DVD-ROM and Other Ubuntu Versions 583 Download from Wow! eBook . Ubuntu Linux Community 10 Praise for Ubuntu Linux 11 Should I Stop Using Windows? 11 Ubuntu Linux and its Strengths 12 Summary 12 ■ CONTENTS vi ■ Chapter 2: GNU "slash" Linux. xxiii Part 1: Introducing the World of Linux 1 ■ Chapter 1: Meet Ubuntu Linux 3 Ten Reasons to Try Ubuntu Linux 3 What Is Ubuntu Linux Anyway? 4 Ubuntu Linux Is an Operating System 4 Ubuntu. Preferences 14 1 Summary 14 5 ■ Chapter 8: How to Secure Your Computer 14 7 Windows Security vs. Linux Security 14 7 Root and Ordinary Users 14 8 Encryption 15 0 Setting Up for Encryption 15 1 Encrypting